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FRONTENAC -- Bus lines from Goodhue County communities to the Twin Cities would be cost prohibitive now but could be considered as areas like Cannon Falls grow, county officials said Tuesday while discussing a Metropolitan Council study. The report says a bus route from Cannon Falls to Minneapolis that makes two trips daily would cost between $180,000 to $213,000 to operate annually.

FRONTENAC - Goodhue County commissioners have OK'd a study that will pinpoint direct accesses to Highway 52 that can be closed between Hader and Cannon Falls to make the busy stretch of road safer and easier to travel. Howard R. Green Co. will complete the study, which will also identify one interchange to replace at-grade intersections at County Road 1 and 9 along Highway 52. A preliminary design of that interchange will be part of the project. "As we've learned with the 52/24 project, you don't get anything done without a plan," Commissioner Dan Rechtzigel said.

FRONTENAC - Goodhue County commissioners have OK'd a study that will pinpoint direct accesses to Highway 52 that can be closed between Hader and Cannon Falls to make the busy stretch of road safer and easier to travel. Howard R. Green Co. will complete the study, which will also identify one interchange to replace at-grade intersections at County Road 1 and 9 along Highway 52. A preliminary design of that interchange will be part of the project. "As we've learned with the 52/24 project, you don't get anything done without a plan," Commissioner Dan Rechtzigel said.

The state needs to do a better job honoring its financial commitments before some local officials will back a cost-saving plan revealed this week by the Association of Minnesota Counties, Goodhue County Administrator Scott Arneson said Friday. Arneson is weary of the 10-point plan - which officials claim could save the state nearly $1 billion per two-year budget - because it calls for counties to take over some state-provided services like road maintenance and state patrol duties. Arneson said the state already refuses to fully reimburse counties for state services handled locally.

What: Public information meeting on AWA Goodhue's proposed wind project When: 7 p.m. Thursday Where: Zumbrota-Mazeppa Middle School cafeteria, 343 Third Ave. N.E., Mazeppa State officials will head to Mazeppa Thursday to hear what residents think about a proposed wind project that would span 32,000 acres over five Goodhue County townships. Staff from the Minnesota Office of Energy Security will hold a public information and environmental report content meeting at 7 p.m.

State officials on Thursday accepted the route application for proposed high voltage transmission lines that will stretch through Goodhue County, though they did acknowledge the large CapX2020 project likely will generate concerns and that at least one citizens advisory task force needs to be involved.

Minnesota and Wisconsin officials hope a new and unique water quality standard will restore the Mississippi River in this area back to its former glory. Residents got more details on the standard Tuesday during an open house sponsored by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance, a local citizens group. Officials are developing a site-specific standard for the Mississippi River from Fort Snelling to Lake Pepin so the water becomes clear enough to grow aquatic vegetation that benefits fish and wildlife.

A state commission will decide Thursday whether to accept CapX2020's route permit application. The proposed project would extend power poles as tall as 170 feet from a new substation near Hampton, Minn., through Goodhue County into northern Olmsted County and onto La Crosse, Wis. Officials say expanding the region's electric transmission grid is necessary to meet increasing demand caused by population and job growth.

Her drive to work will be exactly the same, but Kris Kvols' job will be very different starting next month. HOPE Coalition Board members announced last week that Kvols, current executive director of Goodhue Wabasha Sexual Assault Services, will be the non-profit's new president. GWSAS and the Hope Coalition are both located in Red Wing's Friendship House. "I am really excited to have a new opportunity," Kvols said. "It feels like the timing is right.

The number of criminal complaints filed annually by the Goodhue County Attorney's Office continues on a downward trend dating back to 2006. The office handled 467 felony and gross misdemeanor cases last year, down 19 from 2008, according to statistics released this month by the office. Misdemeanor filings also dropped from 295 in 2008 to 257 last year. Goodhue County Attorney Stephen Betcher said the dip represents to some extent a reduction in police officers in some jurisdictions, including the city of Red Wing.